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Staycation in the Bay of Quinte

Saturday, October 27, 2018

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If you know me, road trips, adventures and being a tourist in my own backyard are kind of my thing aka I'm always up to treat myself to a mini staycation. This past weekend I had the pleasure of exploring the quaint area of Bay of Quinte specifically Belleville, Ontario located just on the other side of the ever so popular Prince Edward County.

So if you're like me and want to go off the beaten path of the 401 highway, I'd suggest that you add this beautiful area to your road trip bucket list! The small town charm, the foodie scene, the conversations, the community, the entrepreneurs - it's beyond amazing to see this area flourish! Driving through the picturesque back roads was the first delight I got to enjoy as I drove through from Kingston.

Aren't we lucky that we have such places so close to us?

Here are a few of my favourite spots that I discovered during my visit:

THE HENRY CORBY HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST

Only a few blocks from downtown Belleville tucked away on a quiet street with other century homes, the Henry Corby House Bed and Breakfast was truly a cozy home away from home. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by the warm and lovely host Tara and as I walked in and glanced around, my jaw dropped - it was as though I had walked into a perfectly curated Homesense house. Every corner was filled with such thoughtful touches - the accessories, the love seats, the beautifully decorated rooms, the comfy beds, aromatherapy body lotion, adorable reading nooks, snacks and more. All the small details simply made for a welcoming stay.

And of course, the best part of a bed and breakfast is the delicious breakfast on the morning of your stay. Scroll down to see what I had!

Where: 126 Bridge St E, Belleville ON

DINNER AT CAPERS

If you've never dined solo, then my friends that is something you should try at least once. Enjoying your own company while people watching is quite amusing especially with a glass of vino and in my case it was a Riesling from Sandbanks Estate Winery. My evening at Capers in downtown Belleville started early as I had quite the night planned out for my foodie self and it did not disappoint. The relaxed ambiance set the mood as some of my favourite oldie tunes played.

As a planner, I had already scoped their menus online and was surprised when they featured an appetizer that simply made me smile. As a kid at heart and comfort food lover, my first order was the deep fried mac n cheese bites with spicy ketchup. I'll let you soak that up...it sure made this gal happy as each bite was cheesy as the next. Crunchy on the outside and ooey gooey on the inside. But if that got you excited then you'll love the second appetizer - rosemary, brown butter spaghetti squash with crisp bacon, shallot, goat cheese, and gooseberries. It was melt in your mouth delicious as the berries added a pop of freshness. I know I'll be trying to recreate this dish when I get home!

Where: 272 Front St, Belleville, ON

BEVIES AND SWEETS AT THE LARK

After visiting The Lark in downtown Belleville, bar seating may just be my new favourite way of dining and the best part, you may just end up chatting with the owner. The Lark sets the tone for the low key setting with a hip industrial vibe and as this new hot spot opened within the year and let's just say, it's now on my top 5 restaurants within Kingston and Prince Edward County - keep reading to find out.

Even before stepping foot into this restaurant, as they specialized in cocktail drinks, I was recommended to try the Suburban Divorcé. An intriguing name that made me want to try it even more. A mix of vodka, lychee, ginger, Thai chile, and lemon. After a sip, you don't expect the kick but it hits you and wow, the cocktail is bold and refreshing at first with an oomph of spice. Let's just say if you want to try something new, this is it.

You when I told you that I had planned a foodie itinerary for the night, well next up on the list was the cheese board with three divine kinds of Canadian cheese, a homemade blueberry jam, local honey, and crostinis. As I chatted with owner Alex, it was great to hear that The Lark serves seasonal dishes with their own twists and that's where dessert comes into play. Am I full yet? Getting there but I couldn't resist a Bengal spice crème brûlée. If you love autumn, then hop in your car because you'll be in heaven. Made with cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, and coconut milk, it was the perfect sweet end to my night as I made my way back to the bed and breakfast to let my slight food coma settle.

If you're looking for lunch, happy hour drinks or a late night stop, add The Lark to your foodie list.

Cheers to an amazing foodie evening and sorry Kingston, The Lark beat you in the crème brûlée department.

Where: 199 Front Street Suite 104 Belleville, ON

NETFLIX AND CHILL

No night is complete without a bit of Netflix and chill. As I got into my jammies and snuggled into bed to watch the latest episode of Riverdale, I made myself some tea and nibbled on artisan milk chocolates from Donini that were so graciously provided in a welcome package.

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

You know what's amazing when traveling alone? Getting the whole bed to yourself where you can lay on your back and starfish it out. And that's preciously what I did. As I enjoyed the ample space, I realized that I had chosen my breakfast to be served at 8am and could smell the aroma of goodness which quickly got me out of bed. Seated by a big bay window at the front of the house, the table setting truly gave me design inspirations for my own home. As breakfast was served, waffles with local maple syrup were my choice, I was joined by a lovely couple and another guest who made the morning quite enjoyable as we chatted about the city and convinced them to come back for a night out.

CAFFEINE BREAK AT THE BRAKE ROOM

As the morning progressed and I checked out of the bed and breakfast which was quite hard as I jotted down so many design ideas for my house, my day of discovering the region (and burning off some calories) was just about to begin but first, coffee. I had heard of The Brake Room on Instagram and had seen rave reviews so it was a must to visit.

This semi-new spot to the coffee scene in Belleville is all about serving its community of coffee lovers and cycling folks. As I took in the surroundings of the shop, I placed my order for a vanilla latte and a blueberry pop tart, oh yes I did and I even got some to go for my foodie partner-in-crime. As I took a seat, I spent some me time to do some reflection.

Where: 34 Dundas St E, Belleville, ON

DAHLIA MAY FLOWER FARM

As I plugged in my next location into Google Maps to head to Trenton also known as Quinte West, I grew slightly impatient as I drove out of Belleville to Dahlia May Flower Farm. Again I had stumbled upon their Instagram page and what girl doesn't love flowers because I was swooning over the gorgeous bouquets of flowers and arrangments. What started as a small family operation by owner Melanie Harrington specializing in growing beautiful varieties of flowers has now blossomed into a flourishing business! I can't wait to return next spring and summer to see the greenhouse filled with dreamy fields of flowers.

But what truly inspired me to venture to this area was to see the work of a young female entrepreneur who took an idea and with passion grew it big while still staying geniune and humble. It was a pleasure to chat with her as I picked our bulbs for my garden at home. It is places and stories like this that fuel me to discover our region.

Where: 1226 Stockdale Rd, Trenton, ON

GRILL'S ORCHARDS

As my last stop before heading back to Kingston, Grill's Orchards was an obvious stop. Known to locals and families for their corn maze and pumpkin patch, Grill's has been serving the community in Quinte West for over 80 years! As soon as I walked in, it smelled like the savoury and sweet goodness of fall. There was something for everyone - jams, apple cider, turnovers, pies, hot drinks and of course apples.

Where: 886 Grills Rd, Quinte West, ON

MMM DONUTS...

The infamous words of Homer Simpson, Glazed and Confusedand Wannamaker’s Bakeshop in Belleville are bakeries that you definitely need to add to your list if you have a sweet tooth and makes for the perfect treat to head back home with.

Where: 144 North Front Street, Unit 1, Quinte West

Thank you to the folks at Bay of Quinte for organizing this amazing trip!

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[name=Rosalyn Gambhir]
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[description=Rosalyn Gambhir is the gal behind the blog The Staycationer. Whether its exploring the local food scene with her foodie partner-in-crime or taking in the view from her favourite cafe, Rosalyn is always a tourist, looking for the next exciting adventure. The Staycationer allows you to rediscover hidden gems in your very own backyard.]
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Welcome to The Staycationer where I play tourist and am always on the look out for the next exciting adventure to share.